History of Preston North End F.C. facts for kids
Preston North End is a famous English football club from Preston, Lancashire. It started as a local cricket club around 1863 and moved to its home ground, Deepdale, in 1875. The club began playing football in 1878 and decided to focus only on football in 1880. They quickly became a professional team in 1883.
Preston North End was one of the first clubs to join the Football League in 1888. They made history by winning the very first two league championships in 1888–89 and 1889–90. In the 1888–89 season, they also won the FA Cup, becoming the first English team to win "The Double" (both the league and the cup in the same season). This team was so good that they didn't lose any matches that season and are still known as "The Old Invincibles."
Since those amazing early days, Preston has won only one more major trophy: the FA Cup in 1938. A legendary player named Tom Finney joined the club in 1938. He played for Preston until 1960 and is remembered as one of football's greatest players ever. He also played many times for England. A year after Tom Finney retired, Preston was relegated from the top league and hasn't returned since.
Deepdale has been a football ground since 1878, making it the world's oldest football stadium continuously used by a club in a major league. The stadium has been rebuilt and modernized over the years, with the last new stand opening in 2008. The club faced tough financial times in the 1980s and again in 2010, but local businessman Trevor Hemmings helped save them. Preston North End was promoted back to the second tier of English football in 2015 and has been playing there ever since.
Contents
How it All Began (1863 to 1886)
From Cricket to Football
Preston North End started as a cricket team around 1863 in Preston. They first played on a field called "The Marsh." Later, some team members wanted to move to Moor Park, which was on the north side of town. This group formed the Preston North End Cricket Club.
The club had money problems but kept going. To earn more money and stay fit in winter, they tried playing rugby in 1877–78. This wasn't very successful, so they switched to association football in 1878–79. Their first known football match was on 5 October 1878 against Eagley F.C., which Preston lost 0–1. This game was played at Deepdale, which is why Deepdale is the world's oldest football ground still used by a major club.
In May 1880, the team captain, Harry Carmel, suggested officially forming a football club, and everyone agreed. Even though they still played cricket in summer, everyone knew football was the club's future.
Becoming Professional (1881–1886)
Over the next few years, Deepdale's facilities improved. Football became very popular in Preston. William Sudell, who was now in charge of the club, had a big dream: to make Preston North End the best team in England.
Sudell's plan was to bring in top players from other areas, especially Scotland. These Scottish players were often called "Scotch Professors" because they were so skilled. The first Scottish player was James McDade, who also became the club's first coach. Other Scottish players followed. They were paid for playing matches and given well-paid jobs in Preston, which was a common practice among clubs in Lancashire.
This led to other teams accusing Preston of "professionalism" – meaning they were paying players when it was supposed to be an amateur sport. In 1884, Preston even had to withdraw from the FA Cup because of these complaints. However, many northern teams threatened to form their own football association. This forced the Football Association (FA) to make professionalism legal in 1885.
The Golden Years (1886 to 1893)
The Old Invincibles (1886 to 1888)
This time saw the rise of a team that became famous as "The Old Invincibles." Most of these players came from Scotland, like Nick Ross, Jimmy Ross, David Russell, John Goodall, and Geordie Drummond. There were also some talented local players, such as Bob Holmes and Fred Dewhurst.
During this period, Preston set an English first-class football record by beating Hyde F.C. 26–0 in the FA Cup in 1887–88. This score is still the highest in English first-class football history.
Champions of England (1888–90)
The Football League was created in 1888, and Preston North End was one of its founding members. In the very first League season (1888–89), North End became the first champions, and they did it without losing a single match! On top of that, they also won the FA Cup without letting in a single goal, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 in the final. Preston was the first club to win the "Double" (League and FA Cup) in English football. Many of their players were the skilled "Scotch Professors."
In the 1889–90 season, Sudell's team won the League championship again. However, other teams quickly improved. Despite many close calls, North End never won the Football League Championship again after these two seasons.
After the Invincibles (1890 to 1893)
Even as the "Old Invincibles" team slowly changed, Preston continued to play well in the league. They finished second to Everton and then twice to Sunderland. In 1892–93, a second division was started, along with a new "play-off" system for promotion and relegation.
In the 1892–93 FA Cup, Preston reached the semi-finals. After two draws against Everton, they lost 1–2 in a third replay.
Ups and Downs (1893 to 1915)
First Division Challenges (1893–1901)
In 1893–94, Preston dropped down the league table. They had to beat Notts County in a special "test match" to stay in the top league, which they did, winning 4–0.
Some of the club's best players, like Nick Ross and John Goodall, left for other teams. Sadly, two of the "Old Invincibles," Nick Ross and Fred Dewhurst, died at young ages. In 1893, William Sudell, who had led the club to so much success, lost control, and the club became a limited company.
Second Division and Promotion (1901–1904)
North End was finally relegated to the Second Division in 1901. But they bounced back quickly, winning the Second Division championship in 1903–04 and returning to the top league.
Growing Popularity (1904–1915)
Deepdale was made bigger to hold more fans as football became more popular across the country. Preston had good players like Joe McCall, Peter McBride, and Dickie Bond during this time.
Preston finished second in the First Division in 1905–06. They then dropped down the table in the following years.
The club had some "yo-yo" seasons, being relegated in 1911–12 but immediately winning the Second Division in 1912–13. They were relegated again in 1913–14 but won promotion straight back in 1914–15. However, World War I started in August 1914, and British football eventually stopped. Many players joined the armed forces.
Between the Wars (1919 to 1939)
Return to League Football (1919–25)
English league football returned in September 1919 after World War I. North End struggled for most of this period, finishing low in the First Division before being relegated in 1924–25.
The club's leader, James Isherwood Taylor, was banned by the FA for trying to sign players illegally, though he returned in 1925.
Second Division Struggles (1925–30)
Despite tough times in the league, North End nearly won the FA Cup. After reaching the semi-finals in 1921, they made it to the final in 1922 against Huddersfield Town. The game was played at Stamford Bridge. Huddersfield won 1–0 with a penalty kick. This was the last FA Cup final before Wembley Stadium opened.
Unlike before the war, North End found it very hard to get back to the top league. They spent several seasons in the Second Division, finishing in the middle or lower half of the table.
Back to Division One (1930–39)
Preston finally returned to Division One in 1934, finishing second behind Grimsby Town. This was the first season for Bill Shankly, who would become a key player.
To avoid relegation from the Second Division, the club signed two forwards, Ted Harper and Dick Rowley, from Tottenham Hotspur in 1931. In 1932–33, Harper scored 37 goals, which is still a club record!
During this time, the club also improved Deepdale, opening the Pavilion Stand in 1934.
On the field, Preston continued to sign talented players from Scotland, like Jimmy Milne and Bill Shankly. With these new players, Preston started to do well again in the First Division and reached the FA Cup final in 1938.
FA Cup Glory (1937–38)
Again, the opponents were Huddersfield Town. The game was decided by a penalty in the last minute of extra time, scored by George Mutch. This was the last time North End won a major trophy.
The Tom Finney Years (1946 to 1961)
Tom Finney was 24 years old when he officially made his league debut for North End after World War II. Many older players had retired because they lost eight years of their careers due to the war. Sadly, three North End players, Jack Owen, Percival Taylor, and David Willacy, were killed during the war.
Ups and Downs (1946–1956)
Preston was relegated in 1949 but quickly bounced back within two seasons. The 1950s were a good time for the club, but they didn't win any more major trophies, even though they came close.
In 1952, Preston almost lost their greatest player, Tom Finney. An Italian club, Palermo, offered Finney a huge amount of money – £10,000 to sign, a high monthly salary, bonuses, a villa, and a car. This was about ten years' worth of earnings in English football! Finney wanted to talk to them, but the club refused to let him go.
Despite this, Finney stayed loyal. The next year, in 1952–53, Preston came incredibly close to winning the First Division title. With two games left, they were battling Arsenal and Wolves. Preston beat Arsenal 2–0 at Deepdale. After another win, it came down to Arsenal's last game. Arsenal won, beating Preston to the title by a tiny difference in goal average.
The next season, 1953–54, Preston reached the FA Cup final again, but they lost 3–2 to West Bromwich Albion. Preston led 2–1 at one point, but West Brom scored two late goals to win.
Finney's Retirement and Relegation (1956–1961)
For the rest of the 1950s, the Tom Finney-led team entertained crowds with fast, attacking football.
In 1960, due to injuries, Finney decided to retire. He played his last game in front of almost 30,000 fans. Many worried that without Finney, the club would struggle, and they were right. Preston was relegated the very next season and has not returned to the top flight of English football since.
Later Years (1961 to Present)
FA Cup Finalists Again (1961–1970)
In the 1960s, a big change happened in football: the maximum wage for players was removed. This meant player wages increased a lot, making it harder for smaller clubs like Preston to compete with bigger teams for top players.
However, North End still managed to reach the FA Cup Final in 1964. They faced West Ham United, who had future World Cup winners like Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst. Preston, being a Second Division team, were the underdogs. Despite this, they played very well and led twice. But West Ham proved too strong, and a late goal saw them win 3–2.
After this cup final defeat, key players were sold. In 1970, the club was relegated to the Third Division for the first time in its history after losing to local rivals Blackpool.
Bouncing Back and More Relegations (1970–1981)
New manager Alan Ball senior helped North End bounce straight back up as champions in 1971. Preston struggled in the Second Division and narrowly avoided relegation in the next two seasons. Ball left in 1973 and was replaced by Bobby Charlton, a famous player.
The club was relegated again under Bobby Charlton in 1973–74. Charlton resigned in protest when a player was sold. Harry Catterick then managed the team for two seasons.
Preston won promotion back to the Second Division in 1977–78 under manager Nobby Stiles. The team had strong players like goalkeeper Roy Tunks and strikers Alex Bruce and Mike Elwiss. However, in 1980–81, Preston was relegated back to the Third Division. Many players and manager Stiles left, leading to a very difficult period for the club.
Hard Times and Recovery (1981 to 1995)
The early 1980s were very tough for Preston North End, bringing the club close to closing down. They went through several managers and struggled in the Third Division. In 1984–85, they were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time, conceding 100 goals that season.
The 1985–86 season was the worst. Preston finished 23rd in the Fourth Division and had to ask the Football League to let them stay in the league (a process called "re-election"). They succeeded.
After this, Deepdale got a new artificial pitch to help bring in more money. Under new manager John McGrath, Preston had a fantastic season in 1986–87, finishing second in Division Four and winning promotion back to the Third Division. Their home form was excellent, as opponents found it hard to play on the new pitch.
The club continued to do well, almost reaching Division Two in 1988–89, but they lost in the play-offs. McGrath left in 1990. Les Chapman took over but struggled with a lack of money and player sales, and the team stayed in the middle of the Third Division.
In 1992, John Beck became manager. He made controversial changes, including adding a lot of sand to the sides of the plastic pitch. The team was relegated to the fourth tier again, now called League Three. However, they reached the play-off final at Wembley in 1994 but lost 4–2.
In the summer of 1994, the plastic pitch was removed. A company called BAXI, which makes heating systems, took over the club. BAXI's goal was to turn Deepdale into a modern stadium. They started by demolishing the old West Stand and building the new Sir Tom Finney Stand, costing over £4 million.
John Beck stepped down in December 1994, and Gary Peters took over. Peters changed the team's playing style to a passing game. The team finished fifth again, helped by a young David Beckham, who played five games on loan from Manchester United. In the 1995 play-offs, Preston lost in the semi-final.
Out of the Fourth Tier (1995–1997)
Preston signed new strikers, Andy Saville and Steve Wilkinson. In the 1995–96 season, after losing their first game, North End went on a 21-match unbeaten run! They won the Third Division championship in April. The new Sir Tom Finney Stand opened in March 1996.
Gary Peters kept most of his promotion-winning team and added new players like Mark Rankine, Sean Gregan, and Michael Jackson, who would be important for the club's future success.
The David Moyes Era (1998–2002)
In 1998, David Moyes, who had been a good defender for the club, became manager. He brought new energy to the team. Meanwhile, work on Deepdale continued. The Bill Shankly Kop stand opened in 1998, and the Alan Kelly Town End stand opened in 2001.
In 1998–99, Preston almost won promotion but lost in the play-offs. In 2000, Preston North End finally returned to the second tier of English football after 19 seasons! They won the championship with only seven defeats all season.
In 2001, Preston broke their transfer record by paying £1.5 million for David Healy. The team finished fourth in the 2000–01 season but lost 3–0 to Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.
Bryan Gray, the chairman, resigned in 2001, and BAXI decided to sell their shares in the club. Derek Shaw became acting chairman. The collapse of ITV Digital, a TV company, cost the club £4.6 million, which meant plans for a new stand had to be delayed.
David Moyes left the club in March 2002 to manage Everton. Craig Brown replaced him, and Preston finished eighth that season.
New Owners and Play-off Runs (2002 to 2008)
In June 2002, BAXI sold their shares, and local businessmen Derek Shaw and Steve Jackson bought more shares. Trevor Hemmings, who would later own the club, also increased his shares.
Craig Brown managed the team for two seasons. In 2004, the second tier was renamed the Football League Championship. After a poor start to the 2004–05 season, Brown left, and Billy Davies became manager.
Under Davies, Preston reached the Championship play-offs two seasons in a row. In the 2005 final, they lost 1–0 to West Ham United. The next season, they lost to Leeds United in the semi-finals. Preston finished fourth in 2005–06, their highest second-tier position since 1964. Davies left in 2006, and Paul Simpson took over.
The 2006–07 season started well, and Preston reached the top of the Championship in December. In March, striker David Nugent played for England, scoring a goal. He was the first Preston player since Tom Finney to play for England. However, the team lost form and finished seventh, just missing the play-offs.
In 2007, Nugent left Preston for a club record fee of £6 million. Despite new signings, Preston's poor form continued, and Simpson was sacked in November 2007. Alan Irvine, David Moyes' assistant at Everton, became the new manager. He helped the team avoid relegation, finishing fifteenth.
Modern Era (2008 to Present)
Deepdale Completed and Financial Challenges
The rebuilding of Deepdale, which started in 1995, was finished before the 2008–09 season with the opening of the Invincibles Pavilion. To honor Tom Finney, the club's address was changed to Deepdale Stadium, Sir Tom Finney Way. Deepdale became an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 23,404.
Preston finished sixth in the 2008–09 Championship, but their hopes of reaching the Premier League were dashed when they lost to Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals. Manager Alan Irvine was surprisingly sacked in December 2009. The team continued to struggle and was relegated to the third-tier Football League One in 2011, where they stayed for four years.
Preston North End faced another financial crisis in 2010. Trevor Hemmings, a successful businessman from Lancashire, bought a controlling share in the club, saving it. He appointed Maurice Lindsay as chairman, who focused on cutting costs. Lindsay retired due to ill health in 2011, and Peter Ridsdale took over.
Promotion Back to the Championship (2013–2017)
Simon Grayson became manager in February 2013. He was the club's fifth manager in four seasons. Under Grayson, Preston reached the League One play-offs in both 2014 and 2015. They lost the semi-final in 2014, but in 2015, they won promotion back to the second-tier Championship by beating Swindon Town 4–0 in the final at Wembley!
Earlier in the 2014–15 season, Preston had a good run in the FA Cup, reaching the fifth round (the last sixteen) for the first time since 2008. They played Manchester United at home in a televised match. Preston took a surprise lead, but Manchester United came back to win 3–1.
Preston stayed in the Championship, finishing eleventh in both the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons. The Football League was renamed the English Football League (EFL) in 2016. Grayson left the club in June 2017 to manage Sunderland.
Alex Neil and Current Status (2017–)
Alex Neil was appointed manager in July 2017. In his first season, Preston finished seventh in the 2017–18 EFL Championship, just outside the play-off positions. This was the club's highest finish since 2009.
